Happy World Soil Day! Let's take a moment to appreciate the incredible role soil plays in our lives. Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Below, read about the Environment Agency's efforts to measure, monitor, and manage soil health, with three groundbreaking case studies that show our dedication to sustainable soil science. Let's hear their stories.
Measuring soil with Agnes Maina
Hi, I am Agnes Maina, and I am an Agriculture Regulatory Inspection Officer. Looking after our soil is critical to addressing interconnected challenges of climate change biodiversity loss, food security and water quality. Soil is a beautiful resource. Feed the soil and it will feed us!
Having grown up on a farm, my passion for soil and desire to understand it were nurtured from an early age. I am deeply engaged in soil and have a diverse background in various facets of agriculture. This includes contributing to previous research on the practicality of conservation agriculture for fodder production with the African Conservation Tillage Network, and contributing to advancement of soil management practice and techniques in Kenya.
My current role at the Environment Agency supports the work of the Agriculture Regulatory Taskforce, and has provided me with extensive training to understand and measure soils. This involves visually assessing soils on agricultural land for compaction and identifying potential or actual problems with land management. The training has equipped me with the skills to ensure I am able to identify potential or ongoing issues, discuss issues with land managers and offer advice and guidance.
Monitoring soil with Stephen Webster
Hi, I'm Stephen Webster. I am an expert on soil health and management in the Devon and Cornwall land management team. I work closely with land managers to reduce the risk of flooding and soil erosion polluting watercourses.
One of the tools we use to understand the inherent risks a field has for soil erosion is the ALERT tool, developed by agricultural specialists across the Environment Agency including our scientists from the Chief Scientist's Group. It is a mapping tool that is based on a collection of very detailed remotely sensed data. You can use it, too, as it is publicly available via the Farming Advise Service website.
The tool also helps us to understand where surface water flows could occur. I say 'could' as surface water flow pathways should generally not occur unless the soil is compacted or experiencing an extreme weather event.
Managing soil with Alison Douglas
Hello! I'm Alison Douglas, a farming officer working for the Wader EU Life Project, a £5.8m nature recovery project helping to reverse the decline of river, coastal and marine habitats in the Tweed Catchment and Northumberland Coast.
We are working in partnership with farmers and landowners in Northumberland to help them manage and improve soil health thereby reducing diffuse pollution. Soils in poor condition can severely impact local water quality as well as biodiversity and productivity of farmland.
I joined the project in July 2024 and am continuing the work of identifying issues and advising on good soil husbandry. We are using the results to understand and manage soils across the region and support soil improvement and nourishment.
Improved soils will allow the land to better retain nutrients and absorb pollutants so less ends up leaching into watercourses. They will also boost crop production. This will be a big win for nature and biodiversity, climate resilience and also food security.
What's next?
Many more projects are underway within and beyond the Chief Scientist's Group to progress important work on soil. These range from monitoring carbon that is stored in the soil, managing harmful substances in soil, and measuring the properties of peat in farms. The Environment Agency's dedication to soil science is more important than ever as we face global environmental challenges. By continuously improving our methods to monitor, measure, and manage soil health, we contribute to a more sustainable future. Let's continue to nurture our earth and ensure that our soils remain healthy and fertile for generations to come.
Learn more about World Soil Day on the United Nations website.
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